• So, anything interesting happen in the last few days? Oh … right. ?
• Megan Barry announced her resignation at a 10 a.m. press conference Tuesday at city hall following pleading guilty to felony theft charges across the street at the courthouse. Her plea bargain was to re-pay $11,000 in inappropriate expenses, serve three years probation and resign immediately in exchange for staying out of jail.
• Sgt. Rob Forrest, the former head of Barry’s security detail, similarly accepted a plea deal where he would re-pay $45,000 in improper overtime. The now-retired police officer may have trouble collecting his full pension of close to $80,000 per year because of the scandal.
• Nashville’s new Mayor David Briley, the former Vice Mayor, learned of his promotion at the same time as the rest of us through media reports. He had dropped his car off at the mechanic and taken the bus in when he learned he probably would need a different ride home from a very long day.
• This is the first time Nashville’s mayor has ever resigned, so that section of the Metro Charter is getting a very close look as city officials figure out how to move forward with a special election. Mayor Briley is only allowed to remain on the job for one full calendar year, but it is widely expected that the city will hold elections this August.
• There is a scenario where Nashville could have four mayors in under two years — Barry, Briley, whoever wins the special election in August 2018 and whoever wins the regularly scheduled election in August 2019. Of course, Briley could conceivably run in all of the upcoming elections.
• With Briley moving into the Mayor’s office, the council president pro tempore Sheri Weiner will fill the role as Vice Mayor. She is serving in Briley’s absence, so it is conceivable he return to complete his term if he does not run (or loses) the special election.
• Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk has asked that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation close their inquiry into that matter now that the plea agreements have been executed. DA Funk was in the courtroom when Barry pleaded guilty.
• An ethics complaint against the former mayor will move forward after her resignation, with one of groups wanting officials to investigate the conflict of interest between the mayor and the police in considering a community oversight board. The family of Joques Clemmons, who was killed in an altercation with a police officer, are among the activists calling for the board.
• In a separate action, the metro council committee formed to investigate the mayor has similarly decided to move forward with their work, albeit with a more limited scope. Some members had suggested the committee was no longer necessary.
• The “Let’s Move Nashville” referendum, championed by the former mayor, will remain on the ballot for May 5 and the new mayor has said he remains a strong supporter. Some opponents had sought to delay or revise it with the leadership change.
• The Nashville Scene has a recap of the former mayor’s very eventful (and consequential) nearly two and half years in office. Speaking of the Scene, yes it is still too early to submit those YASNI entries.
• Alright, now for the rest of the news. ?
• The Metro Council voted Tuesday to end the $44 per day “jail fees” that defendants were billed for being unable to pay bail. The fee is said to have unfairly targeted the poor, and the fees themselves did not necessarily go towards the cost of running the jail.
• A Tennessee State Senate committee has moved forward with a bill that could allow for wine and liquor sales on Sundays. It’s a fairly surprising turn of events for a state that didn’t allow wine in grocery stores until 2016.
• The Senate also voted to nullify a 2016 metro ordinance that created “inclusionary zoning” for apartment developers to exchange variances to zoning rules in exchange for building a percentage of workforce housing. Previous action had made the program optional instead of mandatory.
• The Nashville “central business district” (read: mostly businesses on Broadway and 2nd Avenue) could begin serving alcohol for 23 hours a day. The current ordinances require sales to end between 3 a.m. and 8 (or 6) a.m.
• The City of Goodlettsville (part of Metro Davidson County) is mourning the sudden death of Mayor John Coombs. He was 73.
• You will soon be able to fly out of Nashville International Airport to several new locations with the introduction of Allegiant Airlines. The service to Destin, Florida, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Richmond, Virginia and Savannah, Georgia and Punta Gorda, Florida will begin June 7.
• The Nashville Predators (43-14-9) shut out the Dallas Stars (37-24-6) 0-2 Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to a franchise-record nine games. They will host the Anaheim Ducks (34-21-12) tonight and the New Jersey Devils (34-25-8) Saturday.
• PSA: Daylight Saving Time will begin Sunday night, so remember to move your clocks forward by an hour. Also, now would be a good time to ask for Monday off.

 

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